If you had to grade the Tigers after their first 10 games of spring training, they’d grade out pretty well.

That might come as a surprise to some, as it didn’t take much effort to board the doom train this year, other than elbowing your way through the crowd. And it might not matter much come October, or April for that matter. But looking at the team today, you’d have to be pretty well pleased.

A list of concerns entering spring training would focus heavy on the health of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. So far, so good. It would include Nick Castellanos taking an additional step forward at the plate. He has. And even manager Ron Gardenhire has brought a renewed feeling after 2017 ended in such a dismal way.

Castellanos has a chance to cement himself as a young leader and be part of the future. Or he has a chance to cement himself and be part of a playoff team’s future.

Either is fine for Detroit. You could even argue the second option would be for the best.

■ Reason to be optimistic: Ron Gardenhire runs a good club

Ron Gardenhire(Photo: Robin Buckson / Detroit News)

Cabrera ran a stop sign at third base on Sunday and was thrown out at home plate. This kind of baserunning blunder seemed commonplace when former manager Brad Ausmus was at the helm. And if it wasn’t one veteran player doing what he wanted, it was another.

More of an elder statesman, Gardenhire spoke with Cabrera about the decision rather than let it go unchecked. Cabrera was just testing his legs, but this is the kind of move you hope to see from the team’s skipper.

You can go overboard about the importance of a manager. The players win or lose games with their abilities more often than not. But like with Jim Leyland instilling the idea of playing the game the right way, Gardenhire can leave his mark on the organization and its young players for years to come.

■ Reason to worry: Michael Fulmer experiences elbow soreness

When Fulmer was traded to Detroit in 2015, the chief concern that came coupled with him was his ability to stay healthy. He did that in 2016, the season of his major-league debut, and the result was worthy of the American League Rookie of the Year award.